Alcon reviews

3.7

67% would recommend to a friend

(2,533 total reviews)
avatar

David J Endicott

77% approve of CEO

64% positive business outlook

Alcon has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 2,533 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Alcon employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
3.0
Jan 27, 2015

job and job only

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

competitive salary and good benefits

Cons

very demoralizing atmosphere, very limitted career advancement opportunity

2.0
Oct 22, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Compensation and benefits were top tier in the medical industry when they were privately owned. Now Alcon looks to find young, naiveté workers with foresight not much more than their next position. Development opportunities abound for these next executives, who are ready to play in the political arena. On-site gym is a positive, if you have time, or don't mind skipping lunch.

Cons

Going public and eventually being purchased by Novartis has changed the customer from the doctor and patient to Wall Street. Gone is the company and product pride in exchange for profits. Quality Matters is a motto that only holds true if dollars are also involved - Six-Sigma Black Belts need not apply.

2.0
Oct 19, 2014

Alcon's approach to the development of its associates

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The company recognize the need to develop the employees and has many plans to do that. The development process is quite complicated and involves managers from different levels, along with substantial input from the associates themselves. If you are capable of doing more and contribute in more than a single field, high chances that you will have a development plan in the company.

Cons

Most of the development plans, especially those that involves higher responsibilities and promotions, are subjected to the availability of positions in those higher levels (quite obvious,,, :) ). As the company have a (non formal) policy of bringing new and young employees into managerial roles, and developing women in management positions, the chances of any employee, especially older men, to get a promotion or to get their development plan executed, is low. The HR organization suffers lack of good leaders and those that work for the company are not spending time in following up with the associate's plans. Their contribution for the process is fairly low. It seems like the company has noticed that the vast majority of Executive Leadership Team is Caucasian, and since then they are making efforts in the development of minorities and women into key roles. It turned out to be almost impossible to get a decent development plan, unless you are a young women. On the other hand, if you are a white men, over 45, who already work for the company, your chances to grow with this company are nearly zero.

Viewing 139 - 141 of 2,533 Reviews

Glassdoor has 3,509 Alcon reviews submitted anonymously by Alcon employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Alcon is right for you.